Collapsible hood.



D. E. BONNER. COLLAPSIBLE HOOD.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 4, 1913.

Patentd- May 23, 1916.

mum/r03 DOUGLAS E..BONNER WITNESSES:

BY fig m rymgrfi ATTORNEYS UNITED 'srnfrns COLLAPSIBLE HOOD.

Specification of Letters Patent. 7

Patented May 25s, 1916.

Application filed July 14, 1913. Serial No. 778,820.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Donems E. BoNNER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York city, countv and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Hoods, of which the following is a specification.

. My'invention relates to hoods, tops or covers particularly adapted for use on vehicles of any type, on small boats and as awnings of any description and relates more specifically to that type of hood, top or cover which may be raised and collapsed or folded at will.

' thehood, top or cover is collapsed.

Other objects of my invention will appear in the description hereinafter and the features of novelty will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a view of my improved hood, top or. cover in its extended or raised position with parts in section; Figs. and t-l illustrate the same in successive stages during the folding operation; Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailview with portions of the parts in the same position as in Fig. 1, and Fig. 5 is a detail view of certain other parts.

In the drawings the hood. top or cover as shown comprises the main bow 10 and rear bow 11 both pivotally connected for instance at 12- with. the object to be covered which as before stated may be a vehicle, small boat or the like. The construction may also in elude an interi'nediate rear how 1 pivotally connected at 14. with the rear how 11, it being understood that in some cases this interme diate bow 13 may be pivoted to bow 10. or may be omitted entirely. An articulated front or peak bow 15 is pivoted at 16 tothe main how 10 and comprises a front section 17 pivotally connected with rods 18 preferably though not necessarily by means of rule or break joints 1%}. The customary covering material 20 secured to the bows 10, 11, 13 a d 1:1 and to the object. such as a vehicle bail" any well known manner and so as to be stretched and supported over said object when the hood etc. is raised. In the construction as shown an auxiliary bow 21 has its opposite ends pivotally connected at 22 with the rods 18 and is also preferably connected with the covering material 20. In the unfolded or raised position of the hood, the peak or front bowis intended to extend in front of the main bow 10 substantially in a horizontal direction over the vehicle or other object to be covered and is prevented from thepossibility of accidentally collapsing or folding by means of a brace 23 acting in conjunction with the usual holding straps or other means. This brace 23 has one end pivotally connected at 24 with the main bow 10 and at its other end is preferably provided with a slot 25 through which the pivot 26 for connecting said brace with the front section 17 of the peak bow 15 extends.

As shown in F 1 the auxiliary how 21, in the raised condition of the top is inclined relatively to the peak bow 15 and is maintained in this position by means of the cov-' ering material 20 or an articulated link 27 pivotally connected at 28 and 29 respectively with the brace 23 and auxiliary bow 21 and having its sections pivotally connected together at 30. This link 27 in'addition to its other functions also prevents interference between the auxiliary and peak bows during the collapsing of the top and insures a proper folding thereof. It will be obvious that the various pivots are so arranged that the hood or top when raised will assume substantially the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings and also in such a manner that when the hood or top is closed the bows 10, 15 and 21 will come together and be substantially parallel. In the arrangement of pivots best suited to secure the practical and desired extended position of the top, it is sometimes found that at some point during the closing or folding of the top the ends of the bows 15 and 21 come into contact and bind "thus interfering with the further closing of the top and also injuring the covering material 20 by pinching it between the ends of said bows. With the articulated and flexible link 27 these dangers and objections are overcome for the reason that as the parts assume the position shown in Fig. 2, the link 27 having become flexed will move the end of the bow 21 away from the end of the bow 15 and thus prevent any interference between the same as well as any chafing or pinching of the covering material 20. The

said flexible link 27 by being flexed more or less in the extended position of the top also permits the auxiliary bow to be arranged at different angles as will be readily apparent from an inspection of Fig. 1 of the drawings. In addition to this it is also possible .to overcome and nullify the effects of inac- "be slightly flexed. If however through inacv curate drilling the combined distance between the pivots 22, 29, 28 and 24 is too short, the said link 27 willstraighten out and,-

compensate for such inaccuracies while if the said combined'distance, through inaccurate drilling is too great the said link will be further flexed to compensate for these latter inaccuracies. In either case the proper folding of the bows 15, 21 and 10 is absolutely assured.

To still further guarantee the proper folding of the top and particularly the front portion thereof, I prefer to connect the brace 23 with the peak how 15 by means of the slot and pivot connection 25, 26 heretofore referred to. I arrange this connection so that the pivot 26 is .at the outer or lower end of the slot25 when the top is extended and at or near the-upper or inner end thereof when the bows 15, 21, and 10 are brought together or folded. In the arrangement as shown the pivot 16 is in front of pivot 21, assuming the top to be raised, or in other words is advanced beyond the longitudinal median line of the bow 10 which passes through the pivot 24. Consequently at some point during the closing operation the pivot 26 will come into line with the pivots 16 and 24 or in other words a position indicated by a broken line in Fig. 2 and which might be termed the dead center is reached. Ordinarily any further closing or folding of the forward section of the top woulddistort' the members or otherwise would necessitate either a shortening of the brace 23, or a reduction of the distance between the pivots 26 and 19 or an increase of the distance be.- tween 16 and 19 or between 16 and 24. \Vith the present construction these disadvantages are overcome and the front section of the top may be completely folded owing to the fact that a movement beyond the above mentioned dead center position will cause the pivot 26 to move lengthwise of the slot 25 and relatively to the brace 23. The particu the top of the how 15.

lar slot and pivot arrangement also permits the forward section of the top to be freely extended or unfolded by means 'of a slight manual effort applied only at some point at section of the top has been raised to the position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings a simple forward pressure on the upper.portion of the how 15 will move .the bows 15, and 21, and brace 23 from their folded position to or slightly beyond the dead center position hereinbefore mentioned or in other Thus after the rear words to substantially the positionshown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. In some. cases the weight of the bow 15 alone will cause the forward section of the top to drop to said position by gravity. In eithercase by pressing forward on the bow 15 as described, the rods 18 and brace 23 will be swung on'the respective pivots 16 and 24 and will bring the said forward section of said top to the] unfolded or extended position shown in Fig. 1. That is to say with the construction shown and described a forward manual effort, exerted on the bow 15 with only one hand will be sufficient to raise the forward section of the top, the parts adjusting them selves automatically throughout such move ment. If this is attempted with structures in which the pin and slot connection between in which the various members when .completely folded are back of the dead center position, it may be found that the leverages exerted are such as to cause said forward effort or pressure on the upper part of the peak bow to more-closely fold the said memhers composing the forward section of the top, instead of bringing said section to its extended position. The pivot and slot construction also overcomes inaccuracies in positioning the'pivot holes by properly dimensioning the slot.

WVith the present invention, when the top iscompletely foldedjthe pivot 26 is located in the upper portion of the slot 25 while the link 27 is slightly flexed. This makes it possible to slightly raise the section 17 of the bow 15 independently of. the remaining elements of the top and also permits a limited relative movement of the bow 21 an arrangement which'presents the following important advantages: First it permits the how 15 or how 21 to be easily raised to a limited extent without the necessity for raising heavy additional parts, so that any 'covering material which as frequently happens in the foldthe brace and peak bow is not present and same are folded a positiveiclosing of said ,7 bows in arrangements otherihan' the present independently as described.

one would squeeze and probably out or otherwlse 1n ure sald mater1al.-- With the constructions herein shown and described the two bows l5 and 21 in a contingency such as above would stop closing at a point where the excess of material between them arrested such closing movement. The said material caught between these bows would thus only be subjected to the weight thereof and not to a leverage and shear like action or pressure as would otherwise be the case. The operator noting that the bows had not fully closed would immediately re-arrange this covering material properly an operation which may be performed with ease and comfort'when the bows are arranged to move The said slot and pivot arrangement will also prevent the brace 23 from being bent should the peak bow and auxiliary bows be raised together or become accidentally caught together.

. The illustrated construction or its equivalent also corrects inaccuracies in the drilling of the pivot holes when the pivot is arranged to assume a'position near the center of the slot as the frame of the hood is folded. The slot has the further advantage that in case it should be desired, it permits the main bow to be positioned vertically or inclined toward the rear in the raised position of the top without affecting or destroying the most practical arrangement of the parts necessary to secure the proper folding and raising of said top. With the main bow positioned as 19 so close together that the necessary clearsuggested, an ordinary pivotal. connection at 26, with the parts of a given top proportioned and arranged to produce the desired operations, would bring the pivots 26 and ance-to provide for the proper operation of the top would not be obtained and said top in consequence would not work'properly. In other Words with the present arrangement the pivot 26 may be located at distances from the pivots 19 and 24 which are greater than they normally would be, the slot 25 serving to permit said pivot 26 to change its position as is necessary to secure the proper operation of the top. Itwill be obvious that the elongated slot 25 as illustrated may be replaced by a hole of larger diameter thanthe pivot pin 26 or by other equivalent arrangements which permit a free limited movement between the brace and the bows with which it is connected. .4

In order to still further prevent the covering material from bein pinched between the bows of the forwar section of the top when in a folded or collapsed condition I i prefer to provide suitable retaining devices for fixing the bows against movement in said folded position. In the form illustrated these devices comprise eyelets 31 located on the main how 10 at opposite sides and cooperating pins 32 similarly located on the rods 18, it being understood, that the arwill thus secure the bows in folded position.

and will prevent the outer portions thereof from pressing upon or engaging each other and thus pinching or clamping the material 20 at these points. The pins and eyelets represent only an example of such devices and may be replaced by equivalent means adapted to accomplish the same purpose. The material. of which the bows are constructed usually has a tendency to cause the legs or side members thereof to spread apart, orin other words is resilient in a direction transverse to the length of said sioe members, which tendency or resiliency is used in the present invention to maintain the pins and eyelets in cooperative engagement with each other, it being understood that the pins and eyelets or sockets are positioned relatively to each other to secure this result.

In tops of the kind to which the present invention relates, should the covering material or strainers stretch from use and it is attempted to take up this stretch by pulling In either case,

on the usual retaining straps a considerable bending force may be exerted on the tubing or the like composing the bows and other parts. To overcome this strain and to do away with the injurious effects thereof I preferably use strong strainer webbing be tween the bows and apply it with the joints 19 not fully closed or in other words open to the extent that the stretch. in the covering material or webbing is not sufficient to close said joints. force is converted into a compression strain on the tubing or the like "when the slack is taken up.

It will of course be understood that in the proposed construction the brace 23 and the link 27 may be duplicated on both sides of the top although in some cases this may not be found necessary. In addition the slot .25 may be located at the opposite end of the-brace 23 instead of as shown or in some cases slots may be provided at both ends and any other type of link capable of being flexed may be substituted for the link 27.

Various changes in the specific form shown and described be made within the scope of the claims without departing In this manner the bending said main bow and said peak bow and means connecting said brace with said auxiliary bow and capable of being flexed.

2. In a collapsible hood, a main bow, an articulated peak bow pivotally connected therewith, an auxiliary bow pivotally connected with said peak bow, a brace pivotally connected with said main bow and said peak bow and an articulated link connected with said brace and said auxiliary bow.

3. In a collapsible hood, a main bow, rods pivotally connected therewith, a bow pivotally connected with said rods, an auxiliary bow pivotally connected with said rods, a

brace pivotally connected with said mainv bow at a point above the pivoted connection of said rods and pivotally connected with said peak bow at a point between the pivot so that the folding of the cover causes the 7 a projection to slide in the opening and change its position relative thereto.

5. In a collapsible hood, a bow, an articulated bow pivotally connected therewith, a brace substantially inflexible throughout its length, said brace being pivotally connected at one end to said first named bow and having a slot nearits other end and a pivot pin movable in said slot for connecting the slotted end with said articulated bow.

6. In a collapsible hood, a main bow, an

articulated peak bow pivotally connected therewith, a brace pivotally connected with said main bow at one end and having a slot near its other end, a pivot pin movable in said slot for connecting said other end of said brace with said peak bow, an auxiliary bow pivotally connected with said peak bow and an articulated link pivotally. connected with said auxiliary bow and said brace.

7. In a collapsible hood, a main bow, a peak bow pivotally connected therewith and provided with side members having a tendency to spread apart and cooperating pins and sockets on said main bow and peak bow respectively, for securing said bows together when the hood is collapsed, said pins and sockets beingmaintained in cooperative engagement by the said spreading tendency of said side members.-

8. In a collapsible hood, a main bow, a

front bow connected with said main bow,-

an auxiliary bow connected with said front bow, a brace movably connected with said main bow andsaid front bow and a member connected with said auxiliary bow and with said brace and arranged to permit the points of connection to approach each other.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

.DOUGLAS E. BONNER.

WVitnesses JOHN A. KEHLENBEGK, M. H. Lockwoon. 

